Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions here are for the Minister of Justice. I would like to ask about Charter issues related to the Public Service Act which specifies currently that all members of the public service, by default, will be represented by the Union of Northern Workers, or UNW, for the purposes of collective bargaining except, of course, for the teachers who are represented by the NWT Teachers' Association.
So my first question is can the Minister of Justice say whether the act as it currently stands substantially interferes with GNWT employees' rights to freely associate under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, especially in instances where employees may wish to leave the UNW and join or form a new association. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Okay, colleagues, Member for Yellowknife North. I give you some caution that we do have a bill that we're going to be talking about so please, focus on questions that are not part of the bill. And so Minister of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the attorney general, I am unable to provide legal advice or legal opinions within the Legislative Assembly and as such I will not be able to answer the question regarding the impact to potential Charter rights. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister explain the current legislative process that GNWT employees are supposed to follow if they wish to leave the union and form a new association? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is still requesting a legal opinion from me as the attorney general, and I am unable to answer that question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I understand that the government intends to go out and do some public engagement with stakeholders prior to making any changes to the Public Service Act. Can the Minister explain whether the government intends to offer any guidance or opinions during those public consultations about how the current legislation may interact with Charter rights; will that be part of the public engagement? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Public Service Act is administered through the Department of Finance so that question would be certainly more relevant to be directed to the Minister of Finance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Justice. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
